Harivarasanam vishwamohanam
Hariharathmajam devamashraye.....
Synonymous with the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, this ashtakam
extolling the virtues of Lord Ayyappan/Ayyanaar is sung just before the
closure of the shrine at night after the final poojas. As the concluding
stanzas are recited, the assistant Santhis (Priests) leave the Sanctum
Sanctorum; only the Mel Santhi (Head Priest) remains inside the
Sreekovil. Extinguishing the lamps one by one, he shuts temple doors for
the night.
Harivarasanam celebrates the union of the human soul with the ultimate
and expounds the greatness of Ayyappan. It is believed to have been
composed by Kumbakudi Kulathur Iyer and was first recited at Sabarimala
in 1955 by Swami Vimochananad.
Birth of a tradition
In the early decades of the 20th century, the Ayyappa Sannidhanam on
Sabarimala was a mere jungle that was mostly shunned by pilgrims. A V.R.
Gopala Menon of Alappuzha built a hut in the temple precincts and
stayed there even after the temple was closed for the year. Befriending
the wild creatures that frequented the area, this pious soul led a life
of renunciation and penance; it is learned that he constantly used to
sing Harivarasanam in utter devotion to the Lord. Later, after the
formation of the Travancore Devaswom Board, he was asked to leave the
premises to make way for development; Menon, it is understood, died a
lonely death at a tea estate at Vandiperiyar.
During his sojourn on Sabarimala Gopala Menon was the sole companion of
Thirumeni Eashwaran Namboodiri, an old Mel Santhi at the temple.
Namboodiri was grief-stricken when he heard of Menon's demise. After the
final poojas that day, when he was about to close the temple for the
night, the Mel Santhi remembered his dear friend and chanted
Harivarasanam, thus beginning a tradition that remains unbroken even
today.
Harivarasanam Viswamohanam
Haridadhiswaram Aaradhyapadhukam
Arivimardhanam Nithyanarthanam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranakirtanam Bakhtamanasam
Bharanalolupam Narthanalasam
Arunabhasuram Bhoothanayakam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Pranayasathyakam Praananayakam
Pranathakalpakam Suprabhanjitham
Pranavamanidram Keerthanapriyam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Thuragavahanam Sundarananam
Varagadhayudham Vedavavarnitham
Gurukrupakaram Keerthanapriyam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Tribuvanarchitam Devathathmakam
Trinayanam Prabhum Divyadeshikam
Tridashapoojitham Chinthithapradam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Bhavabhayapaham Bhavukavaham
Bhuvanamohanam Bhoothibhooshanam
Dhavalavahanam Divyavaranam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Kalamrudusmitham Sundarananam
Kalabhakomalam Gathramohanam
Kalabhakesari Vajivahanam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Srithajanapriyam Chinthithapradam
Sruthivibhushanam Sadhujeevanam
Sruthimanoharam Geethalalasam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Comments
Post a Comment